Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the largest individual donor to a group supporting Ron DeSantis' presidential aspirations, has announced a suspension in further donations to the Florida governor's campaign.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Bigelow expressed concerns about DeSantis' struggling bid for the 2024 Republican nomination, which has failed to make a dent in former President Donald Trump's overwhelming lead.
Bigelow emphasized the need for DeSantis to attract new major donors and adopt a more moderate stance. "He does need to shift to get to moderates. He'll lose if he doesn't ... Extremism isn't going to get you elected," said Bigelow, highlighting his belief that the current strategy may prove ineffective.
One specific policy that Bigelow did not support was DeSantis signing a bill in April that banned abortions after six weeks. This move came after Bigelow had already donated $20 million to the "Never Back Down" super PAC supporting DeSantis. Bigelow revealed that he had conveyed these concerns to the governor's campaign team.
When asked about the possibility of resuming donations in the future, Bigelow made it clear that he would wait to see DeSantis generate more fundraising independently. He also hinted at the necessity for substantial financial support. "Not until I see that he's able to generate more on his own. I'm already too big a percentage. A lot of his donors are still on the fence," he said.
While Bigelow continues to support DeSantis as the best candidate for the country, he expressed frustration over the governor's stance on abortion. The controversial bill banning abortions after six weeks has unsettled other donors as well, leading some to redirect their support to other candidates. However, Bigelow commended DeSantis for his policies, particularly applauding his firm stance against "wokeism" in education and the workplace.
As DeSantis' campaign grapples with internal organizational issues, viral videos of awkward interactions, and relentless attacks from Trump, the governor's reliance on the "Never Back Down" super PAC has increased. Despite financial scrutiny due to layoffs within the campaign, DeSantis maintains a significant financial advantage over Trump's campaign and allied super PAC.
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